Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Hey y'all! Reserve this Friday after work for Looptopia, a dusk 'till dawn cultural and artistic extravaganza down in the Loop (duh)! There will be music, art, theatre, film, dance, readings, discussions, food, spectacle, and well, basically, a whole bunch of stuff. So come on out and shake your tail feathers and let off some steam.

You won't want to miss JaGoFF at the MFChicago stage performing at 5pm. Ok, that was just a shameless plug for my husband's band. But seriously y'all, they rule! Cardboard will back me up on this one.

Dateline Chicago, May 9, 2007 - The tribe has spoken. And then there were 9. Elvis has left the building.

Whatever the cliché, the Chicago Loop Pageant Tattler has learned that Miss Michigan Avenue, one of the favorites to win the title of Miss Looptopia 2007, has been unceremoniously booted out of the competition.

Pageant officials aren’t saying much in the final days before Friday’s Miss Looptopia Launch Party and Beauty Pageant at the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago. The party and “spoof” drag beauty pageant is an official launch party for Looptopia, Chicago’s all-night downtown arts, culture, music and performance spectacle taking place from dusk to dawn May 11-12, 2007.

But an inside source tells the Pageant Tattler that Miss Michigan Avenue was voted out of the competition by the other contestants meeting over the weekend to pick up their depilatory creams and size 12 pumps. Speaking under condition of anonymity, our source said: “Miss Michigan Avenue’s personality clashed with the other contestants from the very beginning. The pageant officials were concerned that her negative energy might impact the competition and so when the other contestants asked to have her removed, they agreed.”

None of the contestants will comment officially, but another source tells the Pageant Tattler that Miss South Loop blurted out at a Looptini tasting party: “She’s lucky she won’t be on stage with me. I’d have snatched that wig right off her head.” We suspect the possibility of an ugly incident on stage prompted officials to allow the change.

Miss Michigan Avenue’s representatives declined to comment except to confirm she would no longer be competing. Businesses along Michigan Avenue seemed unconcerned about the change as Miss Millennium Park is now favored to win the competition.

About Miss LooptopiaGet your Looptopia evening started with the “Miss Looptopia Launch Party and Beauty Pageant,” a cocktail party with an interactive, improvised “drag” beauty pageant theme. Sip your special “Looptini” while asking Miss South Loop about her gown, Miss Millennium Park about world peace, Miss Block 37 for makeup tips, or dish the “dirt” on Miss Lower Wacker Drive. Performances throughout with short program at 7:30 crowns “Miss Looptopia.” There is no cover or RSVP required. Cash bar. “Looptopia Survival Pack” gift bag for all attendees. Sponsored by Chicago Loop Alliance, Hard Rock Hotel Chicago, GayCo, and Third Coast Marketing. For full details, visit www.looptopia.com.